So this week I finally got my Mac-mini delivered. As I had mentioned in the previous post , my ibook laptop which I had been using for my audio production had finally broken down. After debating weather to go back to a Windows PC or a Mac, I decided on a refurbished Mac-mini.
I’ve got to admit that I was a bit hesitant about purchasing a refurbished machine, but Gainsaver.com did a very good job in sending me a machine which didn’t even have a scratch on it. I did have to run out to BestBuy and purchase an adapter to use with my recently purchased Acer monitor, but that was no biggie. I was very surprised to see that they included a Mac keyboard and mouse, which their website didn’t mention anything about. Also since they didn’t have the 1.25 GHZ model in stock they upgraded me to a 1.4GHZ machine. I did have to pay a little more but it was worth it.
Upon plugging in the mini and starting it up, the first thing I noticed was that all you get with a refurbished machine is the OS program. Unlike buying a new machine directly from the Apple store, you do need to install iLife and all the other goodies that normally already come installed. However this too was no biggie. It only took me about 2 hours to load up iLife and all the other programs that I use including the drivers for my Mobx 2.
The next day I decided to put the new machine through a few audio recording tests. As I mentioned in a previous post , I have (and have used) many different DAW and recording software in my 25 + years of recording. Currently I have Pro Tool, Cubase, Logic, Reason, Ableton and Garageband. But I really wanted to make this machine very practical and efficient. Because of my limited schedule, I need something that allows me to spend 90% of my time creating and only 10% on the technical side. The best combination of programs for me to have such a system is Garageband and Ableton.
I synced up Garageband and Ableton through Rewire and began sequencing various loops and software instruments together with sounds from my Triton keyboard. The two systems worked effortlessly. As I added audio tracks I realized why I got a Mac in the first place. Everything just works right off the box. No tweaking, no downloading of different drivers for different peripherals. It all just worked perfectly and fast.
Ironically what was supposed to be a test on how much the system could handle quickly became an idea for a new song. This was yet again another proof to myself that this was the type of system I need. Something that would allow more time for creating and recording with less tinkering around.
I see a lot of post on different music forums talking about which program is better, and which one is for pros and which one is for amateur. I myself use to think that you needed “X” program to really get the best production. But after working with so many different programs and seeing so much technical improvements made on them, I realize that it doesn’t matter what you use, as long as it works best for “You”.
Now I know that Pro Tools is the industry standard, and I will keep using it, but only if I have to. I also know that there are probably better set-ups out there that will do exactly the same thing for me if not better. And when I do discover them, I’ll probably use them and forego my current setup, but for now, I believe I have found a set-up that will keep me busy for a long time (in a good way).
Oh, and as for my laptop? I recently got a nice royalty check and plan to use that money to get it fixed. Since my wife and daughter have fallen in love with that little laptop, I’ll go ahead and let them use it for the personal home use (i.e. myspace, facebook etc.). This way they’ll stay away from my DAW.
